Elusive 7" Automatic console on eBay

[decojoe67]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1948-Automat...item1a0094e813
One of the most sought after post-war TV's. It needs a serious restoration, but is so worth every penny of the BIN price. Hard to even value what it would be worth after a restoration it's so rare! Grab it if you live locally - NOW!

[stromberg67]

Could this set be by "Automatic Radio" of Massachusetts? Seems to be. Never saw one of their TVs in person, but have a couple of the radios.
Kevin

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by stromberg67

Could this set be by "Automatic Radio" of Massachusetts? Seems to be. Never saw one of their TVs in person, but have a couple of the radios.
Kevin

Yes it is. The nicely styled TV's they made in 1948 are much rarer than their radio's and highly sought after by TV collectors. I'm not surprised that this set was quickly sold because it just may be the only existing example. I know of only a single blonde version existing. The 7" tabletops are more common, but still quite rare and valuable.

[rld-tv01]

I have the blonde version of the Automatic console.

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by rld-tv01

I have the blonde version of the Automatic console.

You can't beat the look of a small screen vintage console TV. I've seen others by Majestic and Philharmonic, but the Automatic Radio version is the best.

[Eric H]

Sold for $100? Was it BIN?

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by Eric H

Sold for $100? Was it BIN?

Yes. A total giveaway price even in the condition it is. It sold in a matter of hours.

[ggregg]

45 miles away. Asleep at the wheel.

[David Roper]

I wish now I'd lost my head, I probably could have picked it up and brought it back to Michigan for less than the next one (God knows when) will open for.

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by David Roper

I wish now I'd lost my head, I probably could have picked it up and brought it back to Michigan for less than the next one (God knows when) will open for.

It was worth a long drive to get it. I've been into vintage TV's for decades and don't recall ever seeing another example for sale. There's a possibility it's the only one in existence. That seems to be the case with the blonde-wood version.

[vts1134]

There's one you probably won't see again for a long time. Between this and the TT-5 that also sold in hours I'm starting to think I need eBay on google glass so I can monitor listings as they happen. Either that or I need to train a monkey to do my bidding for me.